A quote that's posted on Critique Circle's main page today:

"I notice that you use plain, simple language, short words and brief sentences. That is the way to write English - it is the modern way and the best way. Stick to it; don't let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them - then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart. An adjective habit, or a wordy, diffuse, flowery habit, once fastened upon a person, is as hard to get rid of as any other vice."

- Mark Twain


1) I couldn't possibly agree more, and
2) Damn, I've gotta read me some more Mark Twain. I've known this for a while - this quote just reminds me why.


I've stalled a bit on the writing front, partly because I'm trying to focus a bit more on reading and critting. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. A few friends have written some novel-length things that I want to read, and I'd like to be able to devote my time to them. If only crimsonata would perk up, I would have an occasional writing challenge to think about, to the tune of about one every month and a half. That sounds just about right to me.